The Wolf Magazine

Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: Music and Entertainment

Far from a traditional family band, the Vettes are "shake, shake, shaking" their way to the top of the music scene and "giving (fans) what they want," everywhere from the stages of New Orleans to those of MTV.
The band consists of four brothers: Chad, Todd, Brian and Mitch Vette along with their sister and lead singer, Rachel Vette. After participating in separate outside bands, the siblings realized that what they had been searching for had been right in front of them all along - under one River Ridge roof. The band became official in the summer of 2007, and has since gained widespread attention.

Rachel graduated from Loyola in 2006. She was a pre-med major for a year-and-a-half until she switched to music business and hasn't looked back since.

Aside from their hit, "Give Em What They Want," spending 24 days in a row as the number one requested song on the radio station B97 FM in New Orleans, The Vettes have landed major gigs, including Voodoo Fest and Jazz Fest. The band, however, is not limited to only local success. The Vettes have a licensing deal with MTV and are currently in the middle of a busy, five-state southern tour.

The Vettes released an EP in March of 2008 titled T.V. EP. The new wave indie/ alternative rock EP was the first of its kind in terms of customer satisfaction. The band offered a 100 percent customer satisfaction money back guarantee - no questions asked.
Rachel, a high-energy performer and petite blond who often sports jeweled brass knuckles along with her famous golden crystal encrusted microphone stand, took some time out of her hectic touring schedule to answer a few questions for her alma mater.


RITA WEST:
How did you feel the first time you heard your song on the radio?

RACHEL VETTE:
Our first song that ever came on the radio was "Animal." It came on B97 at about 10:30 p.m. on a Sunday night. We were all freaking out at the house.

RW:
Has anyone ever taken you up on your 100 percent customer satisfaction money back guarantee?

RV:
(Laughs) No. No one has. It started out as a joke, we said if someone didn't like it (our EP) then we didn't want them to have it, but we were just having fun with it.

RW:
If you weren't in a band what would you be doing right now?

RV:
Actually (laughs), I have no idea. I don't know what I'd be doing. I haven't even thought about that.

RW:
Did it inspire you to have a musician for a father?

RV:
Yes, we were surrounded by instruments at a young age. Anything we wanted to play my dad would try his best to get it for us and get us training. Both of my parents, my mom and my dad, have really inspired and supported us.

RW:
How is it working with family members?

RV:
In some aspects it's easier and in others it's harder. We know each other so well that we know how to push each others buttons, which can be a bad thing.
But, no matter what happens, you know you are still family. That's what makes us different, I think. We have an instant kind of chemistry.

RW:
As the youngest and the only girl, are your brothers protective?

RV:
Yes, very.

RW:
What accomplishment are you most proud of?

RV:
We (The Vettes) just had a shout out from the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning show. That's a really big deal. It's really exciting.

RW:
Did you ever in your wildest dreams anticipate your band taking off like it has?

RV:
No, but I think it's so cool how things have happened. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for us.

RW:
So, what is next for The Vettes?

RV:
We'll probably release something this fall. You always have to be fresh. You always have to give your audience something new.

RW:
If you could explain your band in one word what would it be?

RV:
I don't know, we're just Vettes. Yeah, Vettes.

RW:
Where do you see your band in a year? In five years?

RV:
We are shooting for widespread national and international success. We're just taking it one step at a time. This might sound cheesy but we're shooting for the stars.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools